First reported 3 Mar 2014•Latest report 18 Nov 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the dedicated process for assessing, disclosing, verifying and monitoring divers’ medical fitness before and during occupational, recreational or technical diving, including reliance on self-report, obtaining relevant medical information, checking current certificates and enforcing fitness requirements before courses or dives.
Not included
Excludes general diving hazards, including immersion pulmonary oedema awareness, decompression risks and water-rescue arrangements, where medical-fitness controls are not deficient.
Excludes diver training, instructor qualifications and experience where the asserted deficiency is not the verification or management of medical fitness.
Excludes firearms, driving and other non-diving licensing medical-assessment processes.
Excludes clinical treatment or emergency response after a diver’s medical fitness has been reliably assessed and the relevant dive has commenced.
Reports
4
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
5
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
8
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
British Diving Safety Group1
British Sub-Aqua Club1
Health and Safety Executive1
N.D.A.C. Limited1
Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)1
St Richard's Hospital1
Sub-Aqua Association1
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust1
Company limited by guarantee1
Healthcare site1
Maritime sector body1
NHS trust1
Private limited company1
Professional membership body1
Workplace safety regulator1
Type not available1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Overreliance on self-declaration questionnaires without further enquiry or access to previous medical history
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Include immersion pulmonary oedema in the diving medical screening declaration.
Stated by Sub-Aqua AssociationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 November 2025.
Action
Remind members at renewal and through periodic newsletters to complete medical declarations accurately.
Stated by Sub-Aqua AssociationStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 November 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Revised medical screening forms and existing training changes are considered sufficient to mitigate the risk of immersion pulmonary oedema in diving.
Stated by Sub-Aqua AssociationExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Gloucestershire
Concerns raised1
Failure to give sufficient consideration to a fitness-to-dive medical certificate as a prerequisite for diving participation
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Consider new information affecting fitness-to-dive guidance at each committee meeting.
Stated by United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMCStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 10 January 2022.
Action
Require health declarations to identify IPO and other health factors influencing IPO risk before referral for medical advice or physical examination.
Stated by United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMCStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 January 2022.
Action
Update recreational diving medical questionnaires to include specific screening questions or references concerning immersion pulmonary oedema.
Stated by British Diving Safety GroupStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 January 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.6
Position
The existing health declaration and referral process is considered sufficient; routine annual physical examinations add no benefit for those declaring no problems.
Stated by United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMCExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Reintroducing routine physical examinations would not identify independently diving people or those at risk because no specific test for IPO susceptibility exists.
Stated by United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMCUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Reducing dishonest health declarations remains difficult because access to general practitioner records has proved unhelpful in some cases.
Stated by United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMCUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
A medical certificate requirement based on IPO risk is considered justifiable only if an equivalent requirement applies to open-water swimming.
Stated by United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMCDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Responsibility for current diving-operation safety arrangements lies with DTSL, the new operator, which should be contacted for further information.
Stated by NDAC LtdRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Existing self-declaration questionnaires and referral arrangements are considered sufficient; a fitness-to-dive medical certificate is not required before participation.
Stated by British Diving Safety GroupExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Leicester City and South Leicestershire
Concerns raised2
Reliance on divers’ self-reporting failing to ensure disclosure of salient health facts
Lack of requirement to obtain divers’ General Practitioner records or enquire into other practitioners’ treatment or advice
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The current self-certification system, including requests for further information and specialist advice, is considered sufficient; no change is needed.
Stated by UK Diving Medical CommitteeExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Obtaining full, unadjusted medical records for all divers is impractical because general practitioners refuse non-NHS forms.
Stated by UK Diving Medical CommitteeUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
North and West Cumbria
Concerns raised1
Lack of a system to verify divers’ medical-certificate compliance before Technical diving courses
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Require current physician approval for students undertaking technical diving courses.
Stated by PADI EMEA LtdStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 March 2014.
Action
Provide Tec Diver Training Records for instructors to document training steps and medical-statement sign-off.
Stated by PADI EMEA LtdStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 March 2014.
Action
Operate a Quality Management Program that monitors and responds to concerns about training omissions and paperwork.
Stated by PADI EMEA LtdStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 March 2014.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Existing medical-certification requirements, forms and course standards are considered sufficient to ensure current medical approval for technical-diving courses.
Stated by PADI EMEA LtdExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Existing standards updates, training support, student acknowledgements and quality-management processes are considered sufficient to address omissions and safety concerns.
Stated by PADI EMEA LtdExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Instructors, rather than the organisation, are responsible for ensuring course requirements are met and maintaining familiarity with current standards and procedures.
Stated by PADI EMEA LtdRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
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Includes failures in the dedicated process for assessing, disclosing, verifying and monitoring divers’ medical fitness before and during occupational, recreational or technical diving, including reliance on self-report, obtaining relevant medical information, checking current certificates and enforcing fitness requirements before courses or dives.
